Kerry Football, Tipsters, Ché Guevaraand Butler Language Academy

Photo: Chris Grayson

<<<<<<<

Kerry Football; The Early Days

(Con Houlihan)

We are told that Gaelic football spread like wildfire (after its invention as a game in 1884). Soon there was a club in almost every parish in the country. People sometimes ask why the game became so popular in Kerry. The answer may surprise you. There were many rugby clubs in Kerry and some of them turned over to the new game. Killorglin's Laune Rangers were an example. They were a famous rugby club but they were the first team to represent Kerry in an All Ireland Final. The new game attracted great crowds and soon the Kerry football team had a great following. They reached their peak in the late twenties and early thirties and again in the late thirties and early forties.

<<<<<

By the Silver River Feale

<<<<<<<

Racecourse Tipsters

John B. Keane wrote a great essay about a colourful character who was part and parcel of every big race meeting. For the week that's in it, here is his piece about a trade that is now completely redundant.

 Racecourse Tipsters  By John B. Keane

I believe that there are people born into this world for no other purpose than to be deceived. They themselves accept the role as if it was theirs by right. They are, as it were, the intellectual fodder on which conmen sustain themselves. They have long been easy meat for clairvoyants, astrologers and palmists, to mention but a few of the prophets of the modern world. Americans have a name for them. They call them suckers.

A worthwhile, if somewhat frowned upon career can be made from preying on these all too plentiful gulls.  Now, therefore, we will deal with the little known occupation of tipster as opposed to the more highly regarded profession of racing correspondent. I must confess here and now that I have not encountered a racecourse tipster for twenty or more years which should encourage aspiring candidates to the position. I can’t imagine why this is so as it was a lucrative trade as well as being colorful and sporting.

I was once acquainted with a racecourse tipster. He was the father of a large family, several of whom entered holy orders and remained in holy orders much to the betterment and general edification of themselves and their communities. One became a doctor, another a teacher and the youngest a black sheep. Black sheep, I might add, only flourish where there are large and highly successful families. An only son rarely turns out to be one. Let me return, however, to our friend, the tipster. A successful member of the tipping fraternity once told me that the cream of his clients were middle-aged women who purchased his tips out of charity rather than any hope of backing a winner. Other customers were drawn from all walks of life while a hard corps was made up of patrons to whom he had previously peddled winners and placed horses.

(continued tomorrow)

<<<<<<<

Ché Guevara in Clare

Liam OHainnín took these photos on a recent trip to Clare.

<<<<<<

A New Kind of School opens in Listowel

The old National Bank building in Listowel Town Square has been completely overhauled. It is now the home of The Butler Language Academy. I recently spotted this group who had just had their photo taken before starting their new term.

This innovative venture offers all kinds of language and leisure courses.

Look at this for example; " English and Golf This program is designed for the professional business person who wishes to not only visit the area, but also upskill on their English language level and enjoy a round of golf in our beautiful nearby golf courses. Details Transport will be arranged to meet and greet you on your airport arrival. Accommodation is organised with nearby excellent quality hotels. English classes are held in a beautiful historical building, The Butler Centre which is located in the heart of Listowel town."

Dublin in Summer 2017, Craftshop na Méar and St. Michael's

Phlox in summer 2017

<<<<<<

O'Connell St. July 2017

I never travel without my camera. On my recent trip to the capital, I snatched a few quick snaps as I waited for a bus on O'Connell Street.

The GPO, historic building and symbol of our struggle for independence.

 Love it or loathe it, the spire is a symbol of the new Ireland.

In a doorway nearby, another potent symbol of modern Ireland.

And they laugh at us in Kerry when we mention fairy forts.

The Luas, modern transport in a modern metropolis

<<<<<<

Craftshop na Méar

I haven't visited this lovely craft shop in Church Street for a while now. When I went there last week it had a Kerry's green and gold theme going on.

<<<<<<<

How Football eclipsed hurling

(Con Houlihan)

When Michael Cusack founded the GAA in 1884, his big ambition was to revive hurling. He invented a game from the the best elements of soccer and rugby and cleverly called it Gaelic football, giving the impression that it went back a long way. The ironic outcome of this was that Gaelic football almost wiped out hurling. It was a simple game to understand and, above all, it caused little injury. This was in an age when a man's hands were important to him. Hurling can be hard on the hands.

<<<<<<<

An Taoiseach in St. Michael's

Fine Gael and the GAA were very much to the fore in the turning of the sod ceremony in St. Michael's on Friday Sept 1 2017.

Photo: Radio Kerry

Leo was in Kerry for the tribute night to Jimmy Deenihan in Tralee. Earlier in the evening he turned the sod for the new technology room in St. Michael's.  The school threw a little party for him with some excellent singing and dancing by some very talented  pupils.

<<<<<<<

Red Hurley in Duagh

Michael Dillane met Red Hurley at the very successful concert in Duagh Community Centre.

Foynes Flying Boat Museum, "By Herkins" and the origins of Gaelic Football

Ripening apples in early autumn 2017

<<<<<<<


A Visit to Foynes Flying Boat Museum


I've passed through Foynes lots of times and I've seen the museum but I never imagined that it was something that would interest me. In truth I didn't even know what a flying boat was. Then on the advice of a friend who had taken young people there, I decided to take my two young visitors to Foynes Flying Boat Museum. They and I loved it.

We learned so much about trans Atlantic aviation and a bit about the River Shannon and its importance. All this learning was done in a really fun and interactive way. We were lucky on the day we visited as the museum was quiet and the boys got lots of time on the interactive bits which they loved.

Foynes is a busy port with lots of sea traffic.

The boys were fascinated by the early communication devices.

You get to sit in a cockpit and land a plane...virtually.

In a trick of mirrors you can even shake hands with the pilot.

There is a replica of the flying boat which was very luxurious.

In the bar, using holograms, we got  to see how the first Irish coffee was made.

This is a long list of all the goods that passed through the port of Foynes in the 19th century.
There were lots of video snippets concentrating on delivering information in a lively and often hilarious way.

The museum is a tall building. When we got to the top we had a great view down over the town and out over the port. The boys loved the two telescopes and spent ages "spying" on people down below.

<<<<<

Help Needed

A blog follower would appreciate any enlightenment on this one.

I am seeking information on the meaning of the phrase, "By Herkins!"- an exclamation known and used in the past in the Castleisland area - and maybe in Listowel, too. 

It was said in circumstances where "By Jove!" would be used by a certain class, and approximates to a what  I often heard an old man in South Meath utter "Be the 'Crass' o' Christ!" or "Be the holy Saint Patrick!" 

Or, as a nod to that wonderful West Cork-man, The Tailor Buckley:- 'By the mockstick of war! There is a deal of difference between the world as it was then and the world as it is today.' 

As Gaeilge, there was an ancient phrase which runs as "Dar magairlí an diabhail!" - which was not  a reference to orchids in the devil's garden...

<<<<<

The Origins of Football

( by Con Houlihan)

There was a kind of football in Ireland long before the coming of the GAA. It was especially strong in North Kerry. It was a primitive kind of game. The ball in use was mostly straw wrapped in leather. You couldn't kick it far and you couldn't kick with any accuracy. A man whose name is forgotten revolutionised football, not only in Ireland but all over the world. He was a Belfast veterinary surgeon who, one day, got tired of seeing his small boy trundling around on a tricycle with rubber tyres. It dawned on him that rubber could be filled with air and this discovery made most of our modern field games possible.....

(Readers of this blog will know that this inventor's name is not forgotten at all. It is John Boyd Dunlop.)

<<<<<<<

Hi Ho, hi ho it's back to school we go

Summer's over for another year. With heavy heart we grandparents wave our children off for another year at the chalkface.

My lovely boys, Sean and Killian have to leave Helios behind as they head back to Scoil Barra.

Aisling, Cora and Róisín are back in Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin .

Meanwhile in Tralee, Tadhg and Caoimhe, twin grandchildren of Vincent, Kathleen and Anthony head out to school on their first day. Their brother Jack is between them in  the photo. He is starting 6th class.